mclean



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. D. MQLEAN.

DEVICE FOR SAILING YACHTS.

No. 559,983. Patented May 12, 1896.

ANDREW B 5RAMAM.PHUTD-|.rmO WASMINGTONJC llwirnn STATES PATENT Quince.

DAVID MGLEAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO DANIELOLMSTEAD, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR SAILING YACHTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 559,983, dated May 12,1896.

Application filed January 7, 1896. 'Serial No- 574,80l. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID hICLEAN, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Sailing Yachts, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanyin g drawings, forming a part thereof, inwhich similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The object of this invention is to construct yachts or other and similarsailing vessels in such manner and provide the same with r 5 masts whichare supported in such manner as to avoid the necessity of carrying theamount of weight or ballast usually employed in such vessels, a furtherobject being to enable such vessels to reach or to beat to windward onan even keel, thus making them point higher and preventing the waste offorce by the objectionable bow-wave, as it is nautically known, which isan unavoidable and retarding feature of the sailing of such vessels whenheeled over by wind-pressure. Instead of the usual tons of ballast-lead,which is usually bolted to the keel, the ballast is carried inside andis arranged to slide from side to side as the pressure of the wind onthe sails 3o demands. The mast instead of being rigid is supported on apivot at the deck-line, and the use of steel for masts and other sparswill render this possible without any undue weakness at this point. Thelower portion of the 5 mast is fitted with gearing, which connects witha geared shaft operating a drum, by which the supporting-rigging isadjusted to suit the sway of the mast, and at both ends of the shaftother gears connect with the ballast, the latter being arranged so as toslide in a V-shaped slot, and is caused to move either to the port orstarboard side of the vessel, as the circumstances demand, andair-cushions are also provided to prevent jamming when the wind dies outsuddenly or when coming about quickly.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanyin g drawings form a part, in which- Figure 1 is avertical cross-section of the hull of a yacht provided with myimprovement, the latter being shown in full lines; and Fig. 2, alongitudinal portion of the hull, showing a side view of the improvementin full lines.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, A represents thehull of a yacht or other vessel provided with the usual keel (L and adeck a and arranged transversely of the hull and about midway of thedepth thereof and at suitable distances apart are strong angle-ironplates or bars B, to the bottom of which are secured triangularangle-iron plates 0, by means of which inclined spaces D are formed,which communicate at the bottom. I also employ a movable ballast E,which consists of a heavy bar of lead or iron, and which is provided ateach end with angular extensions E, which are adapted to fit in theinclined spaces D and to slide therein, and said extensions E areprovided at each end with tendons E Secured centrally of the bars B andat the lower side of each are keepers F, in which are placed shafts orbolts F on each of which is mounted, outside of the bars B and thetriangular pieces C, a bar G, at the lower end of which is a slot g, inwhich the tendons E operate, and connected with the upper end of the barG is a segmental gearing g Secured So to the upper side of each of thebars B is a standard H, each of which is provided with a housing it,through which passes a shaft K, on which is mounted a drum L, and on oneend of the shaft K is mounted a gear-wheel or pinion 71;, which operatesin connection with the segmental gear and this pinion or gear-wheel isarranged directly under the mast M.

The lower end of the mast M is pivotally 0 supported at m on a boltwhich passes through a head at formed thereon, and secured to or formedon the lower part of said head is a segmental gear 0, which is rigidlyconnected with said head by strong braces 0 and the segmental gear 0 isadapted to operate in connection with the pinion or gear-wheel 7s, andconnected with the upper end or top of the mast (not shown) are stays orbraces P, consisting of cords or ropes which are passed I00 downwardlyand outwardly around pulleys R which are properly secured in position ator near the sides of the deck, and thence through and below the deck,where they are connected with the drum L. I also secure to the lowerpieces 0, and near the lower ends thereof, air-cushions, which consistof tubular casings S, provided with pistons and piston-rods S at theouter ends of which are formed heads which are adapted to form a cushionfor the ballast E and to prevent the jolt and jar which would otherwisebe occasioned when said ballast drops quickly into the bottom of theinclined slots or spaces D.

The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing descriptionwhen taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that at each lateral movement of the mast theballast E will be raised or moved through the slots or passages D in thesame direction, and that said ballast will always operate to return themast to the vertical position, and because of this arrangement the hullwill always rest upon an even keel, or substantially so, and thus theadvantages hereinbefore set out will be secured.

A great reduction in weight is gained in two ways by connecting ballastdirectly with the mast, the usual loss by immersion will be avoided, andmore power can be obtained by an equal weight, and the vessel is enabledto point higher to windward and to foot faster by reason of the ballastbeing removed to the opposite side of the center of gravity when thepressure of wind on the sails tends to bear down on the hull. Themovement of the ballast is intended, as will be understood, tocounteract this pressure, and thus retain the hull in an uprightposition, so that the more pressure there is the farther the ballast isremoved from the opposite center of gravity, and the only fixed ballastcarried will be just sufficient to properly balance the hull.

Another advantage which results from this construction is in windwardwork. hen beating to windward under usual conditions, an angle offorty-five degrees is often exceeded. \Vhen an angle like this ismaintained, the keel is at a disadvantage in holding the hull to thewindward, the water escaping under the keel thus allowing the boat toslide off to leeward; but by beating to windward on an even keel, nowater can escape thereunder, and the yacht must necessarily pointhigher, which is the principal object to be gained in a yacht-race. Itis also well known that when heeled over a yacht loses the advantageswhich are the principal results of finelines and perfect form. Insteadof cutting through the water with her bow her quarter tears through it,causing commotion in the water known as the bow-wave, which is always anobjectionable feature and simply represents so much wasted energy whichwould not exist while sailing on an even keel.

It is evident that changes in and modification of the constructionherein described may be made without departing from the spirit of myinvention or sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right to makeall such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly comewithin the scope of the invention.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. A yacht or other vessel provided with a pivotedmast, and a movable ballast, which is in operative connection with thelower end of said mast, and said mast being also pro vided with stayswhich connect with the upper end or top thereof, and which are alsoconnected with a drum below the deck which is in operative connectionwith the lower end of the mast and with said movable ballast by means ofan interposed gear-wheel, substantially as shown and described.

2. A yacht or other vessel provided with a mast, which is pivoted at orbelow the deck, and to the lower end of which is secured a segmentalgear, which is in operative connection with a corresponding segmentalgear, to

which is secured a depending bar which is movably connected with ballastwhich is supported in such manner as to be free to swing from one sideof the hull to the other, sub stantially as shown and described.

3. A yacht or other vessel provided with a mast, which is pivoted at orbelow the deck, and to the lower end of which is secured a segmentalgear, which is in operative connection with a corresponding segmentalgear, to which is secured a depending bar which is movably connectedwith ballast which is supported in such manner as to be free to swingfrom one side of the hull to the other, and stays connected with saidmast and passing around pulleys at each side of the vessel and throughthe deck thereof and connected with a drum which is in operativeconnection with said segmental gears, substantially as shown anddescribed.

i. A yacht or other vessel, the hull of which is provided withcross-bars rigidly secured therein to the lower sides of which aresecured downwardly-dependin g triangular frames or angle-irons betweenwhich are formed slot-s or passages, in which are placed or supported amovable ballast, segmental gears pivotally connected with, and supportedby each of said cross-bars, and at the outer side thereof, each of whichis provided with a depending bar having a slot in the lower end thereofadapted to receive tenons formed on the ends of the ballast, standardsconnected with, and supported by said cross-bars each of which isprovided with a housing, a shaft mounted in said housings, on each endof which is a pinion or gear-wheel adapted to operate in connection withsaid segmental gears, and a mast pivotally supported at or near the deckand provided at its lower end with a segmental gear which is adapted tooperate in connection with one of said gear-wheels or pinions,substantially as shown and described.

5. A yacht or other vessel, the hull of which is provided withcross-bars rigidly secured therein to the lower sides of which aresecured downwardly-depending triangular frames or angle-irons betweenwhich are formed slots or passages, in which are placed or supported amoyable ballast, segmental gears pivotally connected with, and supportedby each of said cross-bars, and at the outer side thereof, each of whichis provided with a depending bar having a slot in the lower end thereofadapted to receive tenons formed on the ends of the ballast, standardsconnected with, and supported by said cross-bars each of which isprovided with a housing, a shaft mounted in said housings, on each endof which is a pinion or gear-wheel adapted to operate in connection withsaid segmental gears, and a mast pivotally supported at or near the deckand provided at its lower end with a segmental gear which is adapted tooperate in connection with one of said gear-wheels or pinions, and saidmast being provided with stays which are connected with the upperportion thereof and which are passed around pulleys near each side ofthe Vessel, and through the deck thereof, and connected with a drummounted on the shaft, on which said pinions or gear-wheels are mounted,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of the subscribing witnesses, this 6th day of January,1895.

DAVID MCLEAN.

Vitnesses:

O. GERsr, L. M. MULLER.

